# The difference between democratic socialism and social democracy **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 2, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-democratic-socialism-and-social-democracy/1034358 "2026-11-02T21:34:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leftpopulist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee7513/32.png) [@Leftpopulist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leftpopulist)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-democratic-socialism-and-social-democracy/1034358/1 "2026-11-02T21:34:19Z")
The difference is that social democrats do not favor nationalization of the means of production, but only a vigorous welfare state. The economy would remain mostly in private hands. Most countries in Europe are social democracies – and by now, that seems to work better than anything else that has been tried – better than Communism, better than the American version of capitalism. Americans, I know, are vague on the difference – I just watched a documentary which repeatedly called Hugo Chavez a Communist. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-democratic-socialism-and-social-democracy/1034358/2 "2026-11-05T22:14:32Z")
Split this topic on November 5, 2026, 10:14pm UTC 17 posts were merged into an existing topic: [Leftpopulist Trock Posts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftpopulist-trock-posts/1034519) ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-democratic-socialism-and-social-democracy/1034358/3 "2026-11-05T22:14:32Z")
Closed on November 5, 2026, 10:14pm UTC